US 2009/0268655 A1 · Method and system for controlling the provision of media content to mobile stations

Abstract

A media service controller controls how one or more base stations transmit media content from one or more media servers to mobile stations. The media service controller may control whether a mobile station receives media content via a unicast or a multicast connection, e.g., based on a predefined schedule and/or on whether other mobile stations served by the same base station are receiving the same media content. The media service controller may provide a content discovery service through which a first media server may determine whether other media servers are providing the same media content. The media service controller may facilitate changing a source of media content received by a mobile station, e.g., by changing the source from a first media server to a second media server when the mobile station moves from an area associated with the first media server to an area associated with the second media server.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method for changing a source of media content received by a mobile station, said method comprising:

providing said media content to said mobile station from a first media server via a first base station;
said first media server receiving an indication of a new location of said mobile station;
in response to said indication, said first media server sending at least one message to a media service controller, said at least one message identifying said media content and said mobile station;
said media service controller determining that a second media server is available to provide said media content to said mobile station;
and
said media service controller instructing a second base station to transmit said media content from said second media server to said mobile station.

3 more elements

A method of controlling how a base station transmits media content to a mobile station, said method comprising:

said base station transmitting said media content to said mobile station via a unicast connection;
a media service controller making a determination that said media content should be multicasted to said mobile station;
in response to said determination, said media service controller sending an instruction to said base station;
and
in response to said instruction, said base station transmitting said media content to said mobile station via a multicast connection.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for controlling the provision of media content to mobile stations

Life of this patent

Method and system for controlling the provision of media content to mobile stations

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25